In addition to my work as a Web designer at Kosmix, I manage a San Francisco band called Seconds on End. We play at places like the Boom Boom Room in San Francisco, the Little Fox in Redwood City, and the Pioneer Saloon in Woodside. We’re known for experimentation, and we have a eclectic but loyal following of passionate fans. In lots of ways, the band is exactly like a startup.

At first glance, the worlds of music and technology are polar opposites. The rock star and the geek seem to come from two very different sides of the social spectrum. One is about sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. The other: Long nights, hard work, and sitting alone in front of computer cranking out code.

But startups and bands have one key thing in common: both have to attract and grow fans. And to get a hit, you need just the right mix of quality, promotion and image. Here are a few things I’ve learned from my experiences with bands and startups:

Connect to Your Audience
Quality is always the first essential element—if your music sucks, or your startup doesn’t fill a need, you won’t get very far. Let’s assume that you’ve scaled this first big hurdle. The next step is to get people to connect with you.

Great bands and startups realize that success isn’t just about creating awesome music or a killer product; it’s also about forging relationships with people. I can tell you that getting a band off the ground requires hundreds, if not thousands, of these personal connections. Band managers used to do this face-to-face, through mailing lists and flyers. These days, social networks are the best way for bands and startups to foster communication with their fans, and, perhaps more importantly, to enable fans to connect with each other. You’re creating a community around your music or company.

Have a Clear Brand Identity
The most successful bands and startups give fans a sense of themselves. It’s a mark of identity to be part of a band’s or startup’s extended community. People who follow the Grateful Dead are saying something about themselves—who they are, their values and goals in life. To be a fan who tours with Kenny G is saying something entirely else.

The same holds true in the tech world. MySpace attracts very different kinds of people then Facebook. And this brand identity changes as the community changes. Facebook’s growth markets now include people in their 60’s and international markets. How will this shifting consumer base change the way old school Facebook users think of themselves?

Understand the Adoption Curves

There are two types of music fans: Those who are always on the hunt for new music, who love live shows and plan their vacations around the music festivals; and those who prefer to listen to mainstream hits on the radio. The first type is much more likely to embrace new, unknown bands.

It’s the same with the startup world. You have a better chance in gaining early adoption with people who use the Internet on a daily basis, and who like trying new sites, services. It’s much easier to convince a hacker to use your new service then someone who logs on once a week to use email.

These users and listeners are more demanding about your product and music. They are not always going to give you glowing feedback, and they may tell you things that you don’t want to hear. But you need to listen. This input from early adopters is invaluable- you’ll never find a group who cares more about what you’re doing—even if they don’t always agree with you. And that, my friends, is what being a true fan is all about.

Editors note: This article was orignally published on the Kosmix Blog.